KS invited to architectural competition in London

Kjellander Sjöberg has been invited to an architectural competition in London for client Hadley Property Group. The commission is regarding the development of a vibrant urban environment with a clear focus on placemaking and new urban qualities. The location on the waterfront will be developed as a destination and a convivial residential environment with 800-1000 new homes with retail and community content, paired with space for recreation and leisure activities at ground level. Five invited teams are requested to hand in their proposals by mid-April, after which a winner of the masterplan is to be announced.

New vocational school in India

KS commencing work on a new international aid project in India to support the local community. The goal is to provide a new vocational school for Tiruchirappalli, a skill-training centre for older teens with disabilities.

The project was initiated by the non-profit organisation Integrated Action Trust – INTACT operating in south-eastern India, aiming to empower marginalised individuals in society by creating opportunities for independent living.

The design is an interpretation of the local vernacular architecture, tailored to meet both social and economic needs. It is made flexible to accommodate development in phases, based on current financial possibilities.

Shop Talk #4 Meanwhile Use

For instance, by transforming and reusing former industrial buildings, creating pop-up parks or temporary urban community gardens on previous industrial sites?

Such unused or underused spaces are often referred to as “meanwhile” as they are interim solutions, ways to rejuvenate spaces while waiting for long-term development plans or construction to commence.

More often today meanwhile strategies play a significant role in defining character for placemaking and identity in developing urban districts. Due to new consumer and citizen demands, businesses, retail and creative start-ups have an increasing desire for unusual spaces and authenticity. As for urban planning and regeneration projects, these existing structures or spaces offer a potential for a more organic and sustainable growth, incorporating a slower and more flexible rate of local micro-economies to develop, that may give another life to communities and heritage. That builds value both from a neighbourhood perspective as well as create real estate value.

How can these projects be cleverly integrated into urban renewal; drivers to create public value and new experiences? With expanded cultural and employment possibilities. Could a meanwhile-strategic-approach ensure that urban development and building projects become less exposed to “the unpredictable gamechangers” (such as Covid-19) and instead have the potential to drive innovation and community engagement?

Transformation of a brutalist gem in Uppsala

We are currently developing Sverre, a residential property on a prominent site facing Vaksala torg in central Uppsala. The project is on assignment for developer Uppsalahem. The block was originally designed by the Anker-Gate-Lindegren architectural practice at the end of the 1960s and comprised solely of large apartments. The key design objective was to provide more residential units in the existing building by subdividing large apartments into smaller ones, as well as adding a two-storey roof extension and a new complementary building in the courtyard with additional apartments. Both volumes are between five and seven floors high with retail spaces such as restaurants and other businesses on the ground floor.

The construction works on site have commenced and we are thrilled to witness the transformation the building will undergo. The work is expected to be completed in 2020-2021.

KS wins competition in Hagastaden in Stockholm

Kjellander Sjöberg has won the invited design competition for the city block Ribosomen in eastern Hagastaden, a new district in northern Stockholm, and has been assigned to develop the project together with the real estate company Humlegården. Ribosomen is a residential scheme relating strongly to the classical 19th century urban typology of the Vasastan area. The proposal follows the local urban design principles and takes advantage of the location between two parks, linking them via a passage and an open green courtyard. The block’s footprint is a trapezium, with towers in each corner and lower interconnecting buildings in between. The façade articulations are contemporary interpretations of the existing buildings in the district, with elements of historically interesting industrial architecture. They are carried out throughout in brick of muted colours.

Ribosomen is part of the new detailed development plan that the City of Stockholm has developed for Norrtull and eastern Hagastaden, at the north of the inner city. Today, the area consists largely of infrastructure and unused industrial land, but it is proposed to become a dense, vibrant urban environment and a new northern entrance to Stockholm that also provides connections to the Royal National City Park. The DDP is about to proceed to the public hearing stage, with construction planned to commence in 2022.

Housing cooperative Solkvarteret wins a sustainability award

Housing cooperative Solkvarteret has been awarded the title of ‘The Smartest Property in Southern Sweden’ for its focus on locally produced renewable energy. The award was presented at the Real Estate Fair in Malmö on 27th February by Jan Eliasson, the former Deputy Secretary-General of the UN. The scheme was designed by Kjellander Sjöberg and is a collaboration between the property developer Serneke and the energy supplier E.ON. The project, located in the Hyllie neighbourhood in Malmö, comprises 83 apartments and will be nearly self-sufficient in terms of electricity. The sustainable lifestyle will be made easier thanks to many new innovative solutions, such as solar cells on the roof providing renewable energy, batteries storing the energy when the sun is not shining and utilizing the kinetic energy of the lifts.

KS wins competition to design new bridge in Malmö

Kjellander Sjöberg has, in collaboration with the London-based bridge engineer Ian Firth and Sweco Civil, won the competition for a new bridge in Malmö. The bridge will be built in Varvsstaden and become a new meeting place at the waterfront, creating a new path between the city’s older districts and the Västra hamnen district.

The point of departure for the design of the overall form and the material choice was the former Kockum’s shipbuilding industry. The character of the historic ships with its smooth curves can be seen referenced in the shape, bulging slightly outwards.

The bridge is designed to be sustainable and require a minimal level of maintenance. It will be constructed with commonly used industrial materials, such as brick, metal and wood. It is set to become a beautiful object, fulfilling its primary function, interconnecting the urban fabric and providing the opportunity for crossing the water at different speeds.

Visit from the Strelka Institute

We had the pleasure of welcoming a group of architecture students from the Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design to our office for a lecture followed by a site visit to our residential infill project Etaget on Kungsholmen. The Strelka Institute is a non-governmental international educational project, founded in 2009 and located in Moscow, aiming to change the cultural and physical landscape of Russian cities. The visit was a part of their study trip to Sweden, seeking a better understanding of city planning in the Nordic countries and how they differ from each other.

KS wins architectural competition in Elinelund

Kjellander Sjöberg has, in collaboration with Veidekke Eiendom, won the land transfer competition in respect of Höbalen 2 plot in Elinelund in southern Malmö. The proposed residential scheme will become a beautiful addition to the neighbourhood, comprising three timber residential buildings forming a sheltered courtyard for everyone to meet, and with play in its foundation. The landscaping is to be modelled for both spontaneous and organised play, for both the livelier play of older children as well as the calmer play of younger ones.

The proposal draws its inspiration partly from traditional layouts of old villages, with allotments and farms, and partly from historic half-timbered houses. The ambition is to create a captivating residential environment with as little carbon footprint as possible, in line with the Local Roadmap for Climate Neutral Construction and Civil Engineering Sector in Malmö 2030 initiative, and to address issues related to social sustainability.

Kjellander Sjöberg nominated for Plåtpriset 2020

KS’s Magnolia Restaurant located in Stora Sköndal is nominated for the sheet metal award Plåtpriset 2020. The award is given each year by Svensk Byggplåt and aims to highlight innovative and sustainable projects where the possibilities of sheet metal are explored in an inventive way.

The winner will be announced at the PLÅT20 event in Stockholm on 13th February.

Jureskogs

Kjellander Sjöberg’s roadside restaurant for Jureskogs opens to the public. It is located next to the European road E4 close to Mjölby and is the first one in a series of restaurants proposed along the Swedish roads.

Jureskogs would like to alter the reputation of fast food and show that it could be both simple and of good quality, as well as fair and right for animals, the environment, wellbeing and health. This long-term approach to food can be also seen within the architecture itself. The ambition was to create a sustainable building of high architectural quality which resulted in a welcoming place employing natural materials both on the inside and outside. Materials that last and become more and more beautiful over time. A place where people want to stop and where the overhanging eaves above the veranda invite for staying outdoors as well indoors. The genuine, simple and relaxed characteristics are also manifested in the layout of the restaurant itself. Wooden pillars in a square grid create a spatial division for diverse seating arrangements with the kitchen is in the centre, allowing for direct interaction between chefs and guests.

KS provides the architectural and urban design services in the Nordic countries. Kjellander & Sjöberg Arkitektkontor AB does not claim to provide the services of an ‘architect’ outside the Nordics subject to specific regulations such as in the UK. Any reference to the word and title ‘architect’ on our website, or other communication channels including but not limited to Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or our newsletter is limited to the Nordic countries.